I come here often for the sweet tea but that's about it. The service is always amazing and sweet…read moreeven if it's been a long day. Eating area is always clean and it's a nice spot to stop if you have time.

Overcharging on things that should already come with the meal. Ranch for a salad .69cents. I…read moresubstituted the cheeses, $1.29 each time. I'm not adding extra cheese just substituting. Called for a manger waited for her for about 20 mins and when she finally came she said they charge for everything. Never coming here again.

Carniceria San Juan de Los Lagos in Carlsbad, NM has to be some of the best Mexican food I've ever…read morehad! I usually have a rule when traveling that I don't visit the same restaurant more than once, but this place was the exception. I came back three times in two days. Yes, it was that good. Sadly, the third time I came back, they were closed. The food tasted very authentic and absolutely worth the visit. I noticed some reviews mentioned communication issues or that the staff may not speak much English. I had a little bit of that struggle too, but honestly, that's how you know you might be in the right place for truly authentic Mexican food. I also felt like it was partly my fault for not doing enough research before ordering. But we figured it out, and the food was more than worth it. One small suggestion: it would be helpful if the menu had a little more English explanation, pictures, or item numbers to make ordering easier for both customers and staff. Overall, this is the kind of true hidden gem you hope to find in a small town. I would definitely take a detour to come back here whenever I'm in the area again.

Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos - Worth the Detour, Even Years Later…read more Some places stay with you. So much so that five years later, on a completely different road trip, you find yourself checking the map and thinking... "we're kind of close." Back in 2021, while exploring nearby national parks, we stumbled across Carnicería San Juan de los Lagos and loved it. This time, on our way to White Sands National Park, we made a small detour to see if it still held up. First surprise... I barely recognized the area. What used to feel like the middle of nowhere has filled in. Suburban life has arrived. Growth happened. But the place? Still there. Still good. Inside, it keeps that same warm, easy charm. Cute wood, farm-style Mexican decor, nothing fancy, just welcoming. The space has grown too, now clearly divided into restaurant, carnicería, and panadería, which means more reasons to linger. And the smell when you walk in? That alone could convince you to stay. Service was just as we remembered, sweet, friendly, and genuine. The kind that makes you feel like a regular even if you've been gone for five years. We went with pozole and shrimp tacos, and both delivered. Flavorful, comforting, exactly what we were hoping for. It's always a bit of a gamble revisiting a place you loved years ago. This one paid off. Still a favorite. Still worth the stop.

Friendly service with wonderful sandwiches, salads and desserts! The fig and prosciutto panini is…read moreout of this world!

I had been eyeing this spot for a while. My husband & I decided to stop in on a lovely Saturday. I…read moregot the fig jam & prosciutto, my husband got the GOAT.. THEY WERE SOOOOOO DELICIOUS! The service was top tier. Super friendly & informative. Space was clean & music was vibin to the 90's rock. We were even given some cannolis on the way out. I definitely will be back, I'd love to try everything on the menu!

We stopped here on our way through and are so glad we did! Our server, Jasmine, was kind and…read moreattentive. The kitchen got our food out quickly, and everything was piping hot and delicious. We arrived around 4:15, and they were already busy--it's obviously a popular spot, and we can see why!

Ordered food to go on a wet stormy night. The hostess at the restaurant was friendly and helpful,…read morethe food was ready when they said it was. The restaurant looked very nice, so will probably eat inside next time. We ordered the Cowboy Wedge Salad, (steak medium rare, the salad was huge, lots of bacon, cheese, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons) I couldn't finishing half of it, a Side Dinner salad with Turkey (came with huge thick slices of turkey, cucumbers and tomatoes) and the Deep fried mushrooms, between us we only ate half the mushrooms. They were hot and juicy. The pictures are mostly after we finished eating, we were hungry.

Super cute coffee shop with baked goods and breakfast items. Lots of outdoor seating where my dog…read moresat with me. I had the carrot juice and an iced coffee. Both were delicious! I would be a regular if I lived here.

A cute spot with indoor and lots of outdoor patio seating! It was really busy but I was able to…read moreorder to quickly and waited patiently for my French toast and chai tea latte. Their French toast is only $6.50! You can add the sausage patty for only $2 more. Prices are good, customer service is great, and the vibes are chill. I was super happy with my drink.

Food was excellent and the portions of the brisket and ribs were so tender. The two sauces that…read morecame with the meal were very tasty. The service and staff were outstanding. We would recommend them to anyone. We are definitely coming back. The ambiance was beautiful for a place so small. Family owned and they are some beautiful people. They recommend Joe's Italian for our Anniversary and it was a beautiful place.

Amazing food customer service bbq sauce is off the charts we are even going to order some and have…read moreit shipped to my house when they get there bottles in to bottle it up.

The interior was an interesting combination that gave mostly a country feel, even if the music…read moreselection was anything but country. Servers were kind and attentive although seemingly more business (at least our server). The food was fine but wouldn't necessarily say it was outstanding. I would though go back.

Nice clean place with fast and efficient service. The Bar-B-Q meats were cooked properly and tasted…read moregreat. The French fries were homemade and extra crispy like we like. A sign of the times when half the menu is listed as market price. The Memphis style Bar-B-Q sauce had a bit too much hot sauce/cayenne pepper.

passed thru carlsbad and stumbled across here and glad that we did! fast service, homely…read moreatmosphere, and great food.

While visiting Carlsbad Caverns we stayed in town for a couple days and had dinner here our first…read morenight. The waitress who served us was wonderful, friendly, attentive, and incredibly kind to our dog. Prices were very reasonable and the portions were generous. The only negative part of the evening had nothing to do with the restaurant. A man seated next to us spent much of dinner being rude and entitled, repeatedly questioning how the salmon was prepared, criticizing the wine list, and generally acting unpleasant toward the staff. The blonde waitress with glasses handled the situation with impressive patience and professionalism. Honestly, it took restraint not to say something myself. She did a fantastic job dealing with a very difficult customer and deserves recognition for it.

El Charro keeping it humble and absolutely delivering. Not fancy (nothing in this town really is )…read morebut daaaaauuum... that bean burrito was one of the best I've had in a long time. The burritos do run a little on the smaller side, but they're packed with flavor and definitely hit the spot. The salsa bar actually brings the heattttt spicy spicy, not just "I promise it's hot" spicy and the guac has legit flavor. Best part? You finish your meal and casually wander next door because it's connected to an ice cream and fruiteria situation. Dinner + dessert without even leaving the building. Say less.

I was recommended El Charro in Carlsbad, NM by some locals, and I'm so glad I listened…read more I'm a big fan of quesabirria and have been on a little quesabirria journey, and this has to be one of the top two best quesabirria tacos I've ever had. The taco was crispy and filled with delicious meat, and the consommé was rich and flavorful. If I hadn't been on the road, I probably would have ordered another one. The portion was generous, and the price was fair too. The service was quick, and the overall dining environment was bright and clean. Definitely a great local recommendation and a spot I'd happily come back to.